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Auschwitz. My first train journey...: The story of Kurt Stein aged 8
My First Train Journey
Eight-year-old Kurt Stein has always viewed the world through the safe, admiring gaze of a boy who idolises his older brother and is wrapped in the warmth of a large, loving family. Living with his parents, grandparents, and five siblings in Warsaw, he knows comfort, tradition, and the unshakable belief that childhood is about being loved and nurtured. His world was filled with fun and laughter, warmth and joy.
But when the Nazi occupation tightens its grip on the city, the Steins’ privileged life collapses over just a few months. Their home is seized, their freedoms stripped, and their safety becomes a memory. Forced into the suffocating confines of the Warsaw Ghetto, Kurt watches his parents shrink under the weight of fear, his sisters learn to be silent, and his heroic brother try desperately to protect them all from a world that has turned suddenly and brutally merciless.
As hunger, terror, and despair rise inside the ghetto walls, the inevitable knock comes, a summons to “relocation.” Herded with thousands of others to the trains, Kurt clings to his mother’s hand, believing that wherever they go, his family will stay together. But the train waiting before them is not a passage to safety. It is a sealed boxcar. A machine of disappearance. A journey with no return.
For Kurt Stein, his first train journey is a one-way ticket to Auschwitz—a harrowing plunge into the darkest chapter of human cruelty. Through the innocent eyes of a child, this story unveils the fragility of hope, the unbearable fractures of a family under siege, and the final, shattering truth of what it means to be exterminated.Dedication; For my father, Chief Petty Officer, Congellous Sydney Jones, who fought through the Second World War and remained in the Royal Navy until 1952, clearing mines and his teenage brother, Stanley who was killed in action aboard HMS Charybdis , a light cruiser from World War II. She was part of the Dido-class cruisers and sank in 1943 off the coast of Brittany after being torpedoed by German ships. Her loss was one of the worst Channel naval disasters of the war and Stanley was just 17 years old…
When I began writing, I did not set out to write this story, but because of my father, I knew one day I would write a story set in World War 2. For years, it waited, quiet and patient, like a shadow at the edge of memory. When the idea began, it was not in a library or archive but at a small green baize table, under the clatter of poker chips.
My inspiration called himself Stanley. He was like many elderly men I had known, wry, observant, and well-mannered with a measured way of speaking that suggested he had long ago learned the value of silence. We played cards together for months before I noticed it. A faint marking on his arm, partially hidden by the cuff of his sleeve. Numbers. Blue, blurred with time, but unmistakable.
An Auschwitz identity tattoo.
Eight-year-old Kurt Stein has always viewed the world through the safe, admiring gaze of a boy who idolises his older brother and is wrapped in the warmth of a large, loving family. Living with his parents, grandparents, and five siblings in Warsaw, he knows comfort, tradition, and the unshakable belief that childhood is about being loved and nurtured. His world was filled with fun and laughter, warmth and joy.
But when the Nazi occupation tightens its grip on the city, the Steins’ privileged life collapses over just a few months. Their home is seized, their freedoms stripped, and their safety becomes a memory. Forced into the suffocating confines of the Warsaw Ghetto, Kurt watches his parents shrink under the weight of fear, his sisters learn to be silent, and his heroic brother try desperately to protect them all from a world that has turned suddenly and brutally merciless.
As hunger, terror, and despair rise inside the ghetto walls, the inevitable knock comes, a summons to “relocation.” Herded with thousands of others to the trains, Kurt clings to his mother’s hand, believing that wherever they go, his family will stay together. But the train waiting before them is not a passage to safety. It is a sealed boxcar. A machine of disappearance. A journey with no return.
For Kurt Stein, his first train journey is a one-way ticket to Auschwitz—a harrowing plunge into the darkest chapter of human cruelty. Through the innocent eyes of a child, this story unveils the fragility of hope, the unbearable fractures of a family under siege, and the final, shattering truth of what it means to be exterminated.Dedication; For my father, Chief Petty Officer, Congellous Sydney Jones, who fought through the Second World War and remained in the Royal Navy until 1952, clearing mines and his teenage brother, Stanley who was killed in action aboard HMS Charybdis , a light cruiser from World War II. She was part of the Dido-class cruisers and sank in 1943 off the coast of Brittany after being torpedoed by German ships. Her loss was one of the worst Channel naval disasters of the war and Stanley was just 17 years old…
When I began writing, I did not set out to write this story, but because of my father, I knew one day I would write a story set in World War 2. For years, it waited, quiet and patient, like a shadow at the edge of memory. When the idea began, it was not in a library or archive but at a small green baize table, under the clatter of poker chips.
My inspiration called himself Stanley. He was like many elderly men I had known, wry, observant, and well-mannered with a measured way of speaking that suggested he had long ago learned the value of silence. We played cards together for months before I noticed it. A faint marking on his arm, partially hidden by the cuff of his sleeve. Numbers. Blue, blurred with time, but unmistakable.
An Auschwitz identity tattoo.
- GenresFiction
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
About the author
Conrad Jones
201 books409 followersConrad Jones is a best-selling thriller writer with 30 thriller novels.
The Anglesey Murders 10 books
The Soft Target Series 6 books
The Detective Alec Ramsay Series 6 books
The Inspector Braddick Series 4 books
The Journey Series 3 books
Cuckoos on the Mersey
18 of his books are available in audio and his novels have been translated into six languages.
He is always keen to talk to readers and writers alike, jonesconrad5@aol.com
FaceBook Conrad Jones Author
Twitter @ConradJones
The Anglesey Murders 10 books
The Soft Target Series 6 books
The Detective Alec Ramsay Series 6 books
The Inspector Braddick Series 4 books
The Journey Series 3 books
Cuckoos on the Mersey
18 of his books are available in audio and his novels have been translated into six languages.
He is always keen to talk to readers and writers alike, jonesconrad5@aol.com
FaceBook Conrad Jones Author
Twitter @ConradJones
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 28, 2026
From the blurb: “Through the innocent eyes of a child, this story unveils the fragility of hope, the unbearable fractures of a family under siege, and the final, shattering truth of what it means to be exterminated”.
The development of the story wasn’t totally through the yes of a young boy, as I was led to believe, based on the blurb.
The writing, even if repetitive in some cases, and storytelling were excellent, and I was hooked from the very first page. I appreciated the story written in third person.
It was a compelling read, although brutal, heartbreaking and harrowing.
The author did a great job creating a work of fiction. I was amazed at how much heart he added to this work.
We all know about the topic, one of the darkest moments in the history of humanity, and one that I will never be able to comprehend how the rest of the world was able to keep quiet or oblivious to the events for so long.
The author did not spare details here. The violence is raw and tragic. The story was powerful and extremely emotional and the characters were well developed and believable. I felt their presence around me, as if I was there at the time. That’s how good the storytelling is. Tragic or not, I did not want to turn away.
This was my third book by this author. He impressed me with “Deliver Us From Evil (DI Braddick
Book #4)” and “Zodiac: Have you read your horrorscope today?”
The development of the story wasn’t totally through the yes of a young boy, as I was led to believe, based on the blurb.
The writing, even if repetitive in some cases, and storytelling were excellent, and I was hooked from the very first page. I appreciated the story written in third person.
It was a compelling read, although brutal, heartbreaking and harrowing.
The author did a great job creating a work of fiction. I was amazed at how much heart he added to this work.
We all know about the topic, one of the darkest moments in the history of humanity, and one that I will never be able to comprehend how the rest of the world was able to keep quiet or oblivious to the events for so long.
The author did not spare details here. The violence is raw and tragic. The story was powerful and extremely emotional and the characters were well developed and believable. I felt their presence around me, as if I was there at the time. That’s how good the storytelling is. Tragic or not, I did not want to turn away.
This was my third book by this author. He impressed me with “Deliver Us From Evil (DI Braddick
Book #4)” and “Zodiac: Have you read your horrorscope today?”
April 8, 2026
The Holocaust is one of the most painful chapters in human history, and stories like this one carry an enormous emotional weight. I won’t be forgetting this story any time soon.
It’s a deeply moving and heartbreaking historical novel, narrated through the innocent eyes of a little eight and a half year old Jewish boy named Kurt Stein.
The story begins in Warsaw with Kurt’s warm, loving family consisting of his parents, grandparents, and five siblings before the darkness of Nazi occupation shatters their world. As conditions worsen in the Warsaw Ghetto, young Kurt is eventually deported with his family on what becomes his first and only train journey, a terrifying ride to Auschwitz. Through a child’s perspective, the novel quietly reveals the fear, confusion, and unimaginable suffering that millions endured.
I believe that Mr Jones has written this book with raw honesty and emotional intensity. It is clearly written with great respect for the victims and a desire to honor their memory by showing the true horror of what happened.
In his Dedication he writes about Auschwitz and those dreaded tattooed numbers:
It is not Kurt’s story; it is a work of fiction, shaped by imagination, research, and the echoes of many voices that history has tried, and failed, to erase. Yet at its heart lies a single, undeniable truth: behind every number was a name, a life, a torturous world that once existed. “Auschwitz” is not just a place. It is a wound that never fully healed, a reminder of what happens when humanity is stripped of compassion, and when ordinary lives are swept into extraordinary horror.
Books like this serve as solemn reminders of humanity’s capacity for both evil and resilience, and of our shared responsibility to remember.
We must never forget the Holocaust. We must never let such an atrocity happen again.
It’s a deeply moving and heartbreaking historical novel, narrated through the innocent eyes of a little eight and a half year old Jewish boy named Kurt Stein.
The story begins in Warsaw with Kurt’s warm, loving family consisting of his parents, grandparents, and five siblings before the darkness of Nazi occupation shatters their world. As conditions worsen in the Warsaw Ghetto, young Kurt is eventually deported with his family on what becomes his first and only train journey, a terrifying ride to Auschwitz. Through a child’s perspective, the novel quietly reveals the fear, confusion, and unimaginable suffering that millions endured.
I believe that Mr Jones has written this book with raw honesty and emotional intensity. It is clearly written with great respect for the victims and a desire to honor their memory by showing the true horror of what happened.
In his Dedication he writes about Auschwitz and those dreaded tattooed numbers:
It is not Kurt’s story; it is a work of fiction, shaped by imagination, research, and the echoes of many voices that history has tried, and failed, to erase. Yet at its heart lies a single, undeniable truth: behind every number was a name, a life, a torturous world that once existed. “Auschwitz” is not just a place. It is a wound that never fully healed, a reminder of what happens when humanity is stripped of compassion, and when ordinary lives are swept into extraordinary horror.
Books like this serve as solemn reminders of humanity’s capacity for both evil and resilience, and of our shared responsibility to remember.
We must never forget the Holocaust. We must never let such an atrocity happen again.
June 6, 2026
Auschwitz, My First Train Journey broke me in so many ways. The story was interesting and completely heartbreaking but the concept was solid. The cover is good but somber. Showing a little boy beside a train in the guise of World War 2. It worked well and fit the book perfectly. The writing is excellent and the story flowed really well. It was obvious how much research has gone into writing Kurt Stein's story. It was such a great job. The setting was good as you would expect it to be. The characters were great and I thought they were well developed. I really liked Kurt. His journey broke my heart. I definitely recommend this but do have tissues to hand.
April 20, 2026
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, A BOOK WILL GRAB YOUR ATTENTION AND DOESNT LET GO. THIS IS DEFINITELY THAT BOOK.
This is one of the most raw, powerful and emotional books written about the most horrific time in history. Once you start reading, it is almost impossible to put down. The author captures the characters beautifully in a way that makes you feel as if you are with them. There are so many suspenseful moments every time you turn the page.
This is undoubtedly a book that will be stored in my memory for years to come. If ever there was a must read book, this is the one.
Thank you, Conrad, for keeping me totally engaged in another phenomenal book.
This is one of the most raw, powerful and emotional books written about the most horrific time in history. Once you start reading, it is almost impossible to put down. The author captures the characters beautifully in a way that makes you feel as if you are with them. There are so many suspenseful moments every time you turn the page.
This is undoubtedly a book that will be stored in my memory for years to come. If ever there was a must read book, this is the one.
Thank you, Conrad, for keeping me totally engaged in another phenomenal book.
May 17, 2026
Review of an advance copy
The title speaks for itself with this book, be prepared to have tissues by your side.
The story is only partly about Kurt Stein and his family, and as the book progresses, we follow them into the Ghetto and discover just how bad life was for the Jewish community during World War Two. You can sense the fear and anguish, not just Kurt’s and his family, but all those living in squalor. And then that final train ride to Auschwitz …
This is not an easy book to read, but it is an important read. The Holocaust is a dark and disturbing period in time that should never be forgotten. Over six million Jewish people lost to barbarity, World War Two was a depraved time in history.
I cried often during the telling of this story, and I had to put the book down often to digest what I was reading. My head hurt from thinking about all the suffering that went on, from the elderly to babies.
I read a lot of World War Two fiction, and this tale is one that will always stay with me. This is an outstanding read by a talented author.
Lest We Forget.
The title speaks for itself with this book, be prepared to have tissues by your side.
The story is only partly about Kurt Stein and his family, and as the book progresses, we follow them into the Ghetto and discover just how bad life was for the Jewish community during World War Two. You can sense the fear and anguish, not just Kurt’s and his family, but all those living in squalor. And then that final train ride to Auschwitz …
This is not an easy book to read, but it is an important read. The Holocaust is a dark and disturbing period in time that should never be forgotten. Over six million Jewish people lost to barbarity, World War Two was a depraved time in history.
I cried often during the telling of this story, and I had to put the book down often to digest what I was reading. My head hurt from thinking about all the suffering that went on, from the elderly to babies.
I read a lot of World War Two fiction, and this tale is one that will always stay with me. This is an outstanding read by a talented author.
Lest We Forget.
Review of advance copy received from Author
From the very first page, this story grips the heart with a force that will leave readers breathless, shaken and unable to look away.
The book opens with Jacon Stein senior, the oldest volunteer fighter within his company.in the battleground of Warsaw in September 1939 with the Germans advancing around him. From here we then meet the Stein’s, father Leon, his wife Hanna and their five children , Jacob, Kurt, Rivas, Ella and Sara, a family trying to cling to the rhythm of everyday life enduring terrible atrocities. Their suffering is not abstract, it is personal, specific and deeply human in a place built to extinguish hope.
Not every member of the Stein family will survive the times and those who do are forever marked by what they have witnessed. Yet the story is not one of despair alone. It is also about the stubborn persistence of love, identity and humanity in the face of systematic annihilation. The emotional weight of the final chapters linger long after the last page, the author neither shields the reader from the brutality nor allows the victims to be reduced to statistics. The Stein’s remain individuals, flawed, frightened, brave and unforgettable. A very emotional and brilliant read. Thank you to the author for an advanced copy, highly recommended.
The book opens with Jacon Stein senior, the oldest volunteer fighter within his company.in the battleground of Warsaw in September 1939 with the Germans advancing around him. From here we then meet the Stein’s, father Leon, his wife Hanna and their five children , Jacob, Kurt, Rivas, Ella and Sara, a family trying to cling to the rhythm of everyday life enduring terrible atrocities. Their suffering is not abstract, it is personal, specific and deeply human in a place built to extinguish hope.
Not every member of the Stein family will survive the times and those who do are forever marked by what they have witnessed. Yet the story is not one of despair alone. It is also about the stubborn persistence of love, identity and humanity in the face of systematic annihilation. The emotional weight of the final chapters linger long after the last page, the author neither shields the reader from the brutality nor allows the victims to be reduced to statistics. The Stein’s remain individuals, flawed, frightened, brave and unforgettable. A very emotional and brilliant read. Thank you to the author for an advanced copy, highly recommended.
June 4, 2026
This is a remarkable read. We obviously know about the horrors of the Holocaust and the brutality of the concentration camp at Auschwitz, but what Conrad Jones has done here is to create a piece of historical fiction based on known-facts that fully immerses the reader into the narrative and feels incredibly real.
‘Kurt used to think the loudest sound in the world was the tram screeching when it turned the corner at the end of their street in Warsaw. Yesterday, he learned he was wrong. The second day of the invasion, the loudest sound was the quiet.’
The prose itself is phenomenally powerful with descriptive language and metaphors that serve to create cruel images and vividly portray the savagery of the German army. It’s raw, shocking and disturbing but perfect for conveying the enormity of the situation.
The characters are authentic; their experiences, their fears, their relationships all laid bare.
A book like this is always going to be a tough read, but this is a truly brilliant portrayal of one of the darkest times in our history.
With thanks to the author and Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for the opportunity to participate in the blog tour.
‘Kurt used to think the loudest sound in the world was the tram screeching when it turned the corner at the end of their street in Warsaw. Yesterday, he learned he was wrong. The second day of the invasion, the loudest sound was the quiet.’
The prose itself is phenomenally powerful with descriptive language and metaphors that serve to create cruel images and vividly portray the savagery of the German army. It’s raw, shocking and disturbing but perfect for conveying the enormity of the situation.
The characters are authentic; their experiences, their fears, their relationships all laid bare.
A book like this is always going to be a tough read, but this is a truly brilliant portrayal of one of the darkest times in our history.
With thanks to the author and Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for the opportunity to participate in the blog tour.
April 15, 2026
Sometimes a book comes along that grabs your heart, rips it out of your chest, and tramples all over it, and then makes you think about it long after you read the final page ~ this is one such book.
This book deals with the Holocaust, a truly traumatic period of history, and as such is not an easy read. Any story dealing with man's inhumanity towards man is always going to be emotive, and Kurt Stein's story is no exception. But it is so much more than that, so much more than even just the story of Kurt's family. It is an exploration of how the occupation of Warsaw and the persecution of the Jews impacted every aspect of life for those affected. Despite all of the tragedy, there are moments of hope, beauty, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of an overwhelming situation.
I think I read at least half of the book with tears in my eyes, and for the final few chapters, they were running unashamedly down my face.
Thank you, Conrad Jones, for giving me a book that will stay with me for a very long time
This book deals with the Holocaust, a truly traumatic period of history, and as such is not an easy read. Any story dealing with man's inhumanity towards man is always going to be emotive, and Kurt Stein's story is no exception. But it is so much more than that, so much more than even just the story of Kurt's family. It is an exploration of how the occupation of Warsaw and the persecution of the Jews impacted every aspect of life for those affected. Despite all of the tragedy, there are moments of hope, beauty, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of an overwhelming situation.
I think I read at least half of the book with tears in my eyes, and for the final few chapters, they were running unashamedly down my face.
Thank you, Conrad Jones, for giving me a book that will stay with me for a very long time
June 5, 2026
📆 single timeline.
👀 3rd person
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "childhood, once untouched and bright, was slowly being swallowed by a darkness none is them could name."
I want you to just read that quote above this. Read it, sit with it for a minute. How does it make you feel? It gives me a really uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Upsetting, unsettling. That's how I felt for this entire book. Which is only right considering the subject matter. This is the Holocaust seen through the eyes of an 8 year old child.
The scenes detailing characters final thoughts as they were dying were hauntingly beautiful, tragic and yet comforting at the same time. It often seems so easy to forget that these things really happened. And whilst there was a lot of pain and heartache, there was also love and hope. Bonds formed in what must have felt like the very bowels of hell.
There were some minor errors which I feel should have been picked up in the final edit, but the overall story is one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
👀 3rd person
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "childhood, once untouched and bright, was slowly being swallowed by a darkness none is them could name."
I want you to just read that quote above this. Read it, sit with it for a minute. How does it make you feel? It gives me a really uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Upsetting, unsettling. That's how I felt for this entire book. Which is only right considering the subject matter. This is the Holocaust seen through the eyes of an 8 year old child.
The scenes detailing characters final thoughts as they were dying were hauntingly beautiful, tragic and yet comforting at the same time. It often seems so easy to forget that these things really happened. And whilst there was a lot of pain and heartache, there was also love and hope. Bonds formed in what must have felt like the very bowels of hell.
There were some minor errors which I feel should have been picked up in the final edit, but the overall story is one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
June 9, 2026
My First Train Journey by Conrad Jones was a heartwrenching read. It is as moving, riveting, eye opening, and gut-turning as The Tattooist of Auschwitz. This will be a book that sticks with me for a long time and I plan to recommend it repeatedly to those who read historical fiction of this nature. While the content of the circumstances surrounding this book continue to be full of tragedy and crime, the themes of familial love, duty, and strength shine through. We not only get Kurt’s perspective as a child but glimpses from all of the generations- grandparents, parents, and older siblings all coming together to convey the shared experience of despair, loss, and survival.
I will need a bit of time to recover from the heartbreak and emotion of this story- and isn’t that the highest praise for a book?
I will need a bit of time to recover from the heartbreak and emotion of this story- and isn’t that the highest praise for a book?
June 1, 2026
This was a gripping read! I can’t say I enjoyed it because of the subject matter but I found it a fascinating narration of what it must have been like for thousands of people at that time. It was well written and gave a valuable perspective to a dark time. It was clearly well researched and a labour of love for the author. I will be recommending this to my fellow WW2 historical fiction lovers as a must read book!
April 7, 2026
A story and and a young boy Kirk ,whose lives are shattered when the Germans came and his life in a a camp where prisoners are treated as worthless ,starved tortored and shown no respect .
Heartbreaking story of families destroyed and loved ones sent to the gas chamber .
Well written and agood read although tragic .
Heartbreaking story of families destroyed and loved ones sent to the gas chamber .
Well written and agood read although tragic .
October 14, 2026
This book took me through a range of emotions and not many books can make me cry but this one did.
It's so well written you feel you know the characters personally.
It's not easy to read at times in terms of the topic but it's so well written it really does give you a powerful reminder of the dark history of the war.
Definitely recommend, another great book by Conrad Jones.
It's so well written you feel you know the characters personally.
It's not easy to read at times in terms of the topic but it's so well written it really does give you a powerful reminder of the dark history of the war.
Definitely recommend, another great book by Conrad Jones.
April 30, 2026
A must read!! Absolutely fabulous
I read this in 2 days, couldn’t put it down, well written and totally absorbing, I have read the numerous books like this one, but this really exceeded my expectations
I read this in 2 days, couldn’t put it down, well written and totally absorbing, I have read the numerous books like this one, but this really exceeded my expectations
August 19, 2026
A very truthful book
This book is a must read,not because it is enjoyable but because everyone needs to know what happened to the Jewish people. It was horrific and at times unbelievable. But these atrocities actually happened.
This book is a must read,not because it is enjoyable but because everyone needs to know what happened to the Jewish people. It was horrific and at times unbelievable. But these atrocities actually happened.
April 11, 2026
Dnb1953
Loved this book..loved all the characters and loved the story..this will break your heart but smile at the end..thank you for a good story
Loved this book..loved all the characters and loved the story..this will break your heart but smile at the end..thank you for a good story
April 18, 2026
This book broke me. It is such a sad story, and written so well that I felt I was there. Kurt and his violin really pulled at my heart-strings. Thanks, Conrad, for a different kind of nightmare.
April 26, 2026
moved me to tears
One of the best books I have read about the plight of the Jews in Poland, heart-wrenching, could not put it down.
One of the best books I have read about the plight of the Jews in Poland, heart-wrenching, could not put it down.
July 21, 2026
so well written
What can I say about this book, it's tells of the most awful chapter in history and a relatable right to the very end. Well done
What can I say about this book, it's tells of the most awful chapter in history and a relatable right to the very end. Well done
April 25, 2026
I dont feel I can say this was a great book as it is so harrowing and incredibly sad, especially as it is all true, although changed for the story. I have always known about the camps and the awful genocide of the Jews but to read it as part of a family is heartbreaking and will stay with me forever. To be honest everyone should read it to remind us of these atrocities and to ensure this can never happen again. We'll done Conrad Jones.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews